AROUND THE WORLD

Great Caesar's ghost--Kryptonite!

April 25, 2007

LONDON, BRITAIN — A mineral discovered in Serbia has the same composition as Kryptonite -- the fictional substance that robs Superman of his powers -- the British Museum said Tuesday. While the material is not a perfect match, its chemical breakdown is strikingly similar.

The unusual mineral was unearthed by a mining group that turned it over to Chris Stanley at the Natural History Museum.

"I searched the Web using the mineral's chemical formula, sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide, and was amazed to discover that same scientific name written on a case ... containing Kryptonite ... in the film 'Superman Returns,'" he said.